The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-02
ROB RoY'S COUNTRY.

mas made historic almost every point in
Scotland. The most prosaic visitor to Ediu-
burgh will find himself touched with the ro-
mantle while standing on Cotton Hill, be-
meath another Parthenon, looking out over
the Old town and the new. One wide hori-
ION embraces both, and the additions Of
mountains and sea, inpart something of
the everlasting freshness of nature to the
new city and the old MANY Of those TO
mantic charms have their origin in the ge-
mus of Scott, and i'll those marvellous fasci-
nations of fiction with which no has in
vested this part of Scotland. 1t is true
that there is scarcely glen or loch, or a
mountain side which has not its
legend, belonging rather to the
domain of romance than to history. Mr.
William Black, the novelist, has sought the
inspiration of Scottish ground and thereby
mas given new charm to many of the old
localities in his more recent publications
Burns, in the lowlands, has done as much
as Scott in the Highlands to invest the
lands with these marvellous charms Indeed
there is no more abiding presence in all
Scotland than Robert Burns, while every
character to which song of his has given
being, still inhabits the scene in which he
placed it. And among the Scotch people
there Is not an incident connected either
with himself or the objects of his love or
bIiC titutlOllS Ol HIS genius, a QeVOUeQ
and pnfading remembrance.
ROB RoY's COUNTRY.
However, it was with Rob Roy's country
that wished to write. / can never forget
the thrill of expectancy with which found
myself environed as begun to realize the
nearness of the actual scenery of Rob
Roy's exploits Leaving Edinburgh in the
morning OH a summer day, with the pure
highland atmosphere filling the lungs, and
watching the sunshine and shadow chasing
each other over the mountain tops, and
with copy Of SCOTS matchless story in
hand, the approach to Aberfoyle about
MONDAY, all the incidents of the
famous McGregor's life became as
real as the particular spots with which
they were connected. The "Clachan of
Aberfal," at which Francis Osbaldistone
and Bailie Jarvie sought to spend night,
has been changed to an elegant brick hotel,
called the ''Bailie Jarvie Nicol Hotel" At
this point we changed from rail to coach,
and / was favored with seat next to the
driver, who proved to be exceedingly COM
municative after special donation of
shilling or two. The long whip cracked
harmlessly over the heads of splendid
team as they dashed at full
speed up the mountains side, over
one of the finest roads that | have ever
Travelled over Our jehu informed us that
from the point of starting until we reached
the banks of Loeb Lomond, the whole land
belonged to his Grace the Duke of Montrose
In the far distance the most remarkable
mountain in all the range could be seen the
summit of Ben Lomond. As we reached
still higher heights, the rugged sides of Ben
Aanand Ben Venu came in sight As we
turned the loftiest peak the most enrapturing
scene burst upon our view. The
Kossacks, rising in their loneliness, glitter
ing in their green attire beneath an even
ing's sun, and lying calm and fair at their
feet was Loeb Katrine-
"In whose deep heart, where cloud and sky ex-
pand
Perpetual joy, perpetual music wakes;
Fairer than all thy sisters in the land
Thou art thysef the Lady of the Lakes"
The descent was rapid and the evening
made joyous by constant EXPLANATIONS of
wonder and surprise at the ravishing beauty
of the scene. On reaching Lake Katrine
we dismissed the coachman and boarded the
little steamer awaiting our approach. We
had a charming sail of ten miles. "Ellen's
Isle" and the ''Silver Strand" on the oppo-
site shore brought Ellen's actuality SO
forcibly to the mind that no one could
doubt of her pathetic story.
HELEN MGREGoR'S BIRTH PLACE.
Soon after leaving Loeb Katrine we come
to the spot where Helen McGregor, the wife
of Rob Roy, was born. The old stone house,
with its matched roof still stands in which
her eyes opened to the light for the first
time. Her history was filled with bitter
ness and disappointment.
The clan McGregor was on account of
the massacre of body of students whom
curiosity had induced to witness the battle
of Glenfuin in which the McGregors were
the victors, were by law deprived of their
very name and every effort made to annihi-
late the whole clan. They were dispersed
and prosecuted to the utmost by the act of
Council of the realm June "a, 1913; death
was declared against any persons of the tribe
formerly called McGregor who should pre-
sumo to assemble in greater numbers than
four.
ROB ROY, OR RED ROBERT,
became cattle trader after his marriage.
and his talents being of no mean order, he
inspired general confidence and done sue
cessful business One of his patrons was the
Duke of Montrose, who advanced him sums
of money at various times to assist him In his
business. But the depression of the cattle
trade brought financial failure to Rob Roy's
plans, and he was unable to pay. He left
his home at Inversnaid, on Loeb Lomond.
and went into the interior of the Highlands
not empty-handed, if reports be
adventures for speculations of a very diff
ferent kind The Duke of Montrose seized
Rob Roy's landed property and stock to
make good his indebtedness, and in doing so
raised the ire of Rob's wife, who was said to
be woman of imperious and naughty
temper But she was driven from her home
and in her extreme anguish at being ex-
PEELED from the banks of Loeb Lomond
gave vent to her feelings in a fine piece of
pipe music still known to amateurs by the
name of "Rob Roy's Lament"
It is we'll to remember these facts to APP
preciate Helen McGregor's eloquent reply
to Capt Thornton, of the English army,
who was seeking the life of her husband
As he approached the summit of the rock
on which she was standing, with unsheathed
sword, "Stand," said she, with command
ing tone. "and tell me what we seek in
McGregor's country?n 1--WE seek the out
law. Rob Roy, and make no war on woman,
therefore assure yourself of no evil treat
mentn
SAY" retorted Helen McGregor, draw
ing herself up to fullest height;
II am no stranger to your tender mercies
Ye have left me neither name nor fame.
NV mothers bones will shrink aside in their
grave when mine are laid beside them. We
have left me neither house nor hold, blanket
nor bedding. cattle TO feed us or flocks TO
clothe lis. Ye have taken from us all-all!
The very name of our ancestors have ye
taken away, and now ye come for our lives"
The trip from Loeb Katrine to Inversnaid
was rather tame compared with the other
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